Chess Puzzle #a4Q2W — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks a8/c5; bishops d2/f1; pawns d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c7; queen d7; rooks g8/h8; bishop f5; knight g6; pawns b6/b7/f6/f7/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc5 — pawn b6→c5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb6+ — queen b3→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb6 (king c7→b6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ba5# — bishop d2→a5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Ba5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: R5rr/1pkq1p2/1p3pn1/2RP1b2/7p/1Q5P/3B1PP1/5B1K b - - 0 28

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.